Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Ann Arbor Public Schools officials do not expect the district's liability insurance cost to rise because of a gun lawsuit.
Deb Mexicotte, Ann Arbor school board president, said the board asked the district's insurance company, Zurich Insurance, to underwrite the expenses, which is typical when the district faces a lawsuit.
On Monday, April 27, Michigan Gun Owners and Ann Arbor parent Ulysses Wong filed the suit against the district in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, claiming a new weapons policy violates state laws.
In April, the Ann Arbor school board passed three policies that effectively ban guns from school buildings and school property.
The policies create a "dangerous weapon and disruption-free zone" on all district-owned property, prohibiting the presence of guns, explosives and a variety of knives and other objects.
Mexicotte said the school board has broad liability insurance and a $10,000 deductible.
It appears costs associated with the lawsuit would be covered by the Zurich's Educators Legal Liability endorsement, said David Comsa, assistant superintendent for human resources and the district's general counsel.
The cost for the coverage is $99,277 annually, he said.
Mexicotte said she does not expect the insurance costs to rise because of the gun lawsuit.
"We face legal challenges on a fairly regular basis," she said.
One cost Ann Arbor schools may incur because of the lawsuit is staff time preparing documents, she said.
"This is an issue the board feels strongly about," Mexicotte said. "We believe it's the right course of action."
In a statement last week, Mexicotte said the board is prepared to meet the challenge of the lawsuit.